The Liberal Democrats have said Jeremy Hunt’s apology will be little comfort to people seeing their operations cancelled.

Liberal Democrat former Health Minister Norman Lamb said:

“This apology will be little comfort to the tens of thousands of people across the country seeing their operations delayed.

“There is no doubt that patients will die and families will suffer because of the impossible pressure the NHS is being put under.

“Tragically this crisis was wholly predictable and preventable. People will rightly be infuriated that the government has refused to put in enough resources to stave off another winter crisis.

“We cannot allow the NHS to keep going from crisis to crisis in this way.

“The Liberal Democrats would put a penny on income tax to raise an extra £6bn a year for the NHS and social care.

“We are also leading calls for the Government to start a cross-party process to develop a long-term, sustainable financial settlement for these vital services.”

Notes

Ahead of the Autumn Budget the Liberal Democrats called on the government to raise an additional £6bn a year for the NHS and care by putting a penny on income tax.

Norman Lamb also led a cross-party letter to the Prime Minister from 90 MPs calling for a long-term settlement for the NHS and care.